It’s a fashion move hardly anyone saw coming, but the wedges from the 2000s are back. And for anyone struggling with the switch to walking shoes (let’s face it, aren’t we all?), The nostalgic and comfy heel may be the answer to our collective fear of shoes. With an increased height and even weight distribution, it is the transition shoe that we didn’t know we needed to prepare for re-entry into the world.
“Wedge heels are both elegant and casual,” Rei Yoon Hongmi, creative director of the Korean brand Reike Nen, told POPSUGAR. “The sharp silhouette conveys a sense of femininity yet comfort. The current moment in fashion aims to be somewhere between the two.” What’s old is new again – just check out the latest runways for proof: Schiaparelli’s Fall / Winter 2021 collection included a stunning boot with a gold wedge heel and trompe l’oeil effects, while Givenchy featured a high-gloss wedge in fire engine red introduced. And retailers followed suit with more exciting iterations in metallic, snakeskin, and lucite that elevated the silhouette from its beginnings to the present.
After more than a year of socks and slippers, the return of the Y2K wedge feels like a faint nod to maximalism and brings joy to put on again. “There is a cultural rebirth and change taking place,” said Barbara Borghini, creative director of luxury shoe brand Gia Couture (Gabrielle Union, Ashley Graham and Karlie Kloss are all fans). “Now that we are out of the pandemic and are optimistic about the future, it seems time for an update.”
We hear Borghini loud and clear. Purchase 15 wedges in advance that are perfect for spreading outdoors. When it comes to enduring shoe trends, you can’t go wrong with comfort.
